England v India – 3rd Test

The Oval has been a happy hunting ground for England in recent times and with the weather set fair for the whole five days they will be optimistic of getting a result out of the game. We too should be optimistic of seeing a result and lay the draw at $2.60 on Betfair accordingly. Though there have been some high first innings scores recently there haven’t been too many draws there: 6 in the last 20 Tests and 2 in the last 10 (both of which were rain affected). It’s a competitive wicket which offers something for everyone and after the bad blood of the 2nd Test you can bet your bottom jelly bean that everyone will be trying. I think the draw should be closer to $2.85-$2.95 so lay for 1.5pts at $2.60.
Lay the Draw 1.5 pts at $2.60: Betfair. 

The Wall is yet to grace this series with one of his majestic innings but what better time to perform than when his team need someone to occupy time at the crease in order to achieve a series winning draw? He is exactly the sort of person who can do well at The Oval – never afraid to apply himself and bat for time. India will be looking to Dravid for a captain’s performance and I think backing him at 11/2 ($6.50) to score a first innings hundred at Paddy Power could reap dividends. He has scored 19 hundreds in the first innings in 111 innings, but The Oval has seen some high first innings scores of late and, with the sun shining for the last week or so, it should be good for batting early. Dravid will be very keen to knuckle down and, if he gets in, will be even less keen than usual to give his wicket away. I would say this should be more like 4/1 or 9/2 so have a point on him to ton-up.
Dravid to score a first innings hundred, 1pt at $6.50: Paddy Power.

Anil Kumble has netted 9 wickets in the series so far and seems to be bowling as well as ever. Kumble is not a big spinner of the ball so really enjoys bouncy conditions and this is exactly what he will get at The Oval. The other Indian bowlers, Zaheer, Sreesanth and RP Singh, are predominantly swing bowlers and, though all bowlers enjoy extra bounce, won’t find the conditions as useful as Anil will. There is less likely to be as much swing as the first two Tests and, as such, I think the English bats could find the Indian seamers far easier to handle first up. This is why I think backing Kumble to take the most wickets for India at 3/1 ($4.00) is ok. He should probably be more like 5/2 in my mind so just have a point and hope to see him bouncing it up around the English batsmens gloves with plenty of people round the bat….and plenty of appealing!
Kumble Top India Bowler, 1pt at $4.00: Paddy Power.

Plays of the Day
Lay the Draw 1.5 pts at $2.60: Betfair. 
Dravid to score a first innings hundred, 1pt at $6.50: Paddy Power.
Kumble Top India Bowler, 1pt at $4.00: Paddy Power.